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<!-- PLEASE DO NOT MAKE THIS PAGE A DUMPING GROUND FOR EVERY CONCEPT ABOUT FEDORA. Instead, make different pages, and link to them with a single phrase that fits into this page's purpose, which is to inform people about the broadest perspective of Fedora, so they can decide whether we are a good fit for their needs and ethics. -->

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== What is the Fedora Project? ==

== What is the Fedora Project? ==

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The ''Fedora Project'' is a partnership of free software community members from around the globe. ''Fedora'' is a ﻿Linux based operating system that provides users with access to the latest [http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html free and open source software], in a [[QA | stable]], [[Security/Features | secure]] and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

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The ''Fedora Project'' is a partnership of free software community members from around the globe. The Fedora Project builds open source software communities and produces a Linux distribution called "Fedora."

=== Our Mission ===

=== Our Mission ===

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The Fedora Project's mission is to lead the advancement of free and open source software and content as a collaborative community.

The Fedora Project's mission is to lead the advancement of free and open source software and content as a collaborative community.

* The Fedora Project succeeds through shared action on the part of many people throughout our community.

* The Fedora Project succeeds through shared action on the part of many people throughout our community.

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=== User base (also known as target audience) ===

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Among our other goals, we strive to create a distribution that is not only open to contribution but also serves the needs of a [[User base|wide audience of users]]. By meeting the common needs of a wide audience, Fedora encourages the spread of free software, understanding of its methodologies, and participation in its processes.

=== Our Core Values ===

=== Our Core Values ===

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We strongly believe in the bedrock principles that created all the components of our operating system, and

We strongly believe in the bedrock principles that created all the components of our operating system, and

because of this we [[Objectives | guarantee]] that Fedora will always be free for

because of this we [[Objectives | guarantee]] that Fedora will always be free for

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anybody, anywhere, to use, modify and distribute.

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everyone, everywhere, to use, modify and distribute.

=== Our Community ===

=== Our Community ===

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Fedora is more than just software, though. It is a [[Statistics| community of contributors]] from [http://fedoraproject.org/maps around the world], including volunteers and Red Hat employees, who work with each other to advance the interests of the free culture movement. Everyone is invited to join, and no matter what your skills are, we have a place for you in our community! The Fedora community includes [[PackageMaintainers | software engineers]], [[Artwork | artists]], [[Infrastructure | system administrators]], [[Websites | web designers]], [[DocsProject | writers]], [[Ambassadors | speakers]], and [[L10N | translators]] -- all of whom will be happy to help you get started.

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Fedora is more than just software, though. It is a [[Statistics| community of contributors]] from [https://fedoraproject.org/maps around the world], including volunteers and Red Hat employees, who work with each other to advance the interests of the free culture movement. Everyone is invited to join and, no matter what your skills are, we have a place for you in our community! The Fedora community includes [[PackageMaintainers | software engineers]], [[Artwork | artists]], [[Infrastructure | system administrators]], [[Websites | web designers]], [[DocsProject | writers]], [[Ambassadors | speakers]], and [[L10N | translators]] -- all of whom will be happy to help you get started.

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We believe that all contributors should [https://fedoraproject.org/code-of-conduct be excellent to each other]. By creating an environment for constructive contribution, we can more effectively and successfully compare and challenge different ideas to find the best solutions for advancement, while building the size, diversity, and strength of our community.

=== Our Method ===

=== Our Method ===

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Fedora is a center for innovation in free and open source software, and creates a community where contributors of all kinds -- developers, documenters, artists, system administrators, and other free software and open source enthusiasts -- come together to advance the ecosystem for the benefit of everybody. The Fedora community contributes everything it builds back to the free and open source world and continues to make advances of significance to the broader community, as evidenced by the regular and rapid incorporation of its features into other Linux distributions. Regardless of which Linux distribution you use, you are relying on code developed within the Fedora Project.

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Fedora is a center for innovation in free and open source software, and creates a community where contributors of all kinds -- developers, documenters, artists, system administrators, and other free software and open source enthusiasts -- come together to advance the ecosystem for the benefit of everyone. The Fedora community contributes everything it builds back to the free and open source world and continues to make advances of significance to the broader community, as evidenced by the regular and rapid incorporation of its features into other Linux distributions. Regardless of which Linux distribution you use, you are relying on code developed within the Fedora Project.

Like any large community, Fedora provides several [[leadership]] components to help identify ways to improve, and to resolve conflicts on technical, organizational, and social levels. The goal for community leadership is to provide the minimum oversight required, and the maximum encouragement to community members to succeed in furthering the Fedora Project's shared goals. For this reason, governance of the community largely comes from the community itself. The [[Leadership]] page is a good place to start if you want to read about the primary governance entities in Fedora, and how they work.

* Even some [http://www.press.redhat.com/2008/05/20/a-new-goal-for-open-source/ robots] do

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* [[Statistics | Millions]] of other users

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== Is Fedora for me? ==

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=== Why Is the Fedora Project Different? ===

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The Fedora distribution is not for everyone, although the Project works hard to make it as usable as possible for the widest possible audience. Fedora is a fast moving distribution that stays innovative by developing and integrating the latest free and open source technologies. By including only free and open source applications, we enable collaboration with a very large community of developers and users. Following the "release early, release often" methodology, Fedora has a short lifecycle to enable [[Staying_close_to_upstream_projects | upstream]] projects to get feedback from a large number of users, enhance features further, close gaps, and fix issues rapidly -- thereby furthering our mission of progress of free and open source software.

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We try to always do the right thing, and provide only free and open source software. We will fight to protect and [[Objectives | promote]] solutions that anyone can use and redistribute. To this end, we use only free and open source software to [https://infrastructure.fedoraproject.org/csi/free-software-policy/en-US/html-single/ power] the Fedora infrastructure itself. With this in mind, all of our developers are focused on working closely with [[Staying_close_to_upstream_projects | upstream]] development teams, so everyone can benefit from our work and get access to our changes as soon as possible. Due to the huge amount of [[Red Hat contributions | innovation]] that Fedora drives, this focus has had significant and long lasting effects. Some of the recent developments in free and open source software that Fedora has driven include:

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To understand better whether Fedora is suitable for you, ask yourself the following:

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* [https://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager/ NetworkManager]

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* [https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/dbus D-Bus]

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* Do you want the latest stable software, produced and maintained by a growing community of FOSS contributors?

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* [https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/polkit polkit]

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* Do you want a platform that features technologies that use or become the next generation of standards?

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* [https://packagekit.org/ PackageKit]

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* Are you OK with moving your computer's OS a minimum of about once a year to use these technologies?

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* [https://freeipa.org FreeIPA]

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* Do you care about sustainable progress in software freedom and innovation?

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* Are you interested in becoming part of a community of contribution and helping drive innovation in FOSS by contributing code, documentation, translation, administration, or otherwise participating?

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If the answer to any or all of these questions is "yes," you should consider Fedora as your operating system. We feature the latest in free and open source technologies, and much of this innovation is driven primarily by contributors in the Fedora Project. Because of our dedication to working continuously with upstream software communities, your involvement with Fedora -- whether to file a bug or to maintain part of the distribution -- is a direct help to all FOSS users worldwide, not promoting a single distribution at the cost of others. This is why the work done in Fedora is used in so many other Linux distributions. By the same token, we actively take an interest in all vital upstream projects to promote good engineering practices and a smooth user experience across distributions.

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If instead you are looking for a distribution that moves slower and has a longer [[LifeCycle | lifecycle]] with commercial support, there are other choices within the Fedora family of distributions, including derivatives like [[RHEL | Red Hat Enterprise Linux]]. If you are looking for something free of cost, a community rebuild might be more suitable for you. The Fedora community enables and supports this freedom of choice by providing infrastructure and maintaining packages in the [[EPEL]] add-on repository for Enterprise Linux.

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== What makes Fedora different? ==

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We try to always do the right thing, and provide only free and open source software. We will fight to protect and [[Objectives | promote]] solutions that anyone can use and redistribute. To this end, we use only free and open source software to [http://infrastructure.fedoraproject.org/csi/free-software-policy/en-US/html-single/ power] the Fedora infrastructure itself. With this in mind, all of our developers are focused on working closely with [[Staying_close_to_upstream_projects | upstream]], so everyone can benefit from our work and get access to our changes as soon as possible. Due to the huge amount of [[Red Hat contributions | innovation]] that Fedora drives, this focus has had significant and long lasting effects. Some of the recent developments in free and open source software that Fedora has driven include:

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* [http://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager/ NetworkManager]

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* [http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/dbus D-Bus]

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* [http://hal.freedesktop.org/docs/PolicyKit/ PolicyKit]

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* [http://packagekit.org/ PackageKit]

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* [http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/ConsoleKit ConsoleKit]

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* [http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/hal HAL]

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* [http://freeipa.org FreeIPA]

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* [[SELinux | SELinux]]

* [[SELinux | SELinux]]

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* [http://www.pulseaudio.org PulseAudio]

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* [https://www.pulseaudio.org PulseAudio]

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* [[systemd]]

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The reverse is also true: by sticking close to upstream development teams, Fedora often gets the latest software before anybody else. Not only does this benefit our community, but it also benefits the upstream

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The reverse is also true: by [[Staying_close_to_upstream_projects]] and development teams, Fedora often gets the latest software before anyone else. Not only does this benefit our community, but it also benefits the upstream teams by providing a much larger audience and more feedback for them.

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teams by providing a much larger audience and more feedback for them.

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Another striking difference of Fedora is our goal to empower others to pursue their vision of what a free operating system should be like. Fedora now forms the basis for [[DerivedDistributions | derivative distributions]] such as [[RHEL | Red Hat Enterprise Linux]], the [[OLPC | One Laptop Per Child XO]], and Creative Commons' [http://wiki.creativecommons.org/LiveContent Live Content] DVDs.

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Another striking difference of Fedora is our goal to empower others to pursue their vision of what a free operating system should be. Fedora now forms the basis for [[DerivedDistributions | derivative distributions]] such as [[RHEL | Red Hat Enterprise Linux]], the [[OLPC | One Laptop Per Child XO]], and Creative Commons' [https://wiki.creativecommons.org/LiveContent Live Content] DVDs.

And that's not all. It is just as easy for individuals to create their own distribution, thanks to Fedora's easy [[CustomSpins | remixing tools]]. These tools allow you to quickly select the packages you want, and create live images for CD/DVD or USB, or installation discs. Some official versions, or what we call "spins," of Fedora have grown up this way, including:

And that's not all. It is just as easy for individuals to create their own distribution, thanks to Fedora's easy [[CustomSpins | remixing tools]]. These tools allow you to quickly select the packages you want, and create live images for CD/DVD or USB, or installation discs. Some official versions, or what we call "spins," of Fedora have grown up this way, including:

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* Fedora Games Spin (installable Live DVD)

* Fedora Games Spin (installable Live DVD)

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We believe [[Software Patents | software patents]] are harmful, a hindrance to [http://www.redhat.com/stories/liberatinginnovation/ innovation] in software development, and are inconsistent with the values of free and open source software. While tightly integrating proprietary and patent encumbered components might superficially improve ease of use, this practice does not benefit the community in the longer run. The Fedora community prefers approaches that benefit the progress of free software in the future over those that emphasize short term ease of use.

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We believe [[Software Patents | software patents]] are harmful, a hindrance to [http://www.redhat.com/stories/liberatinginnovation/ innovation] in software development, and are inconsistent with the values of free and open source software. While tightly integrating proprietary and patent encumbered components might superficially improve ease of use, this practice does not benefit the community in the long run. The Fedora community prefers approaches that benefit the progress of free software in the future over those that emphasize short term ease of use.

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== How do I get Fedora? ==

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=== Joining the Fedora Project ===

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Easy, just visit this [http://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora page] and download it. You can try it without

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Like what you see and want to help out? That's easy too! This [https://fedoraproject.org/join-fedora page] has

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installing anything on your computer, thanks to our Live images on CD or USB - in fact, you can even create a Live USB stick from within [http://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator Windows]!

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If you have a slow internet connection, or no internet connection at all, then you can still get Fedora thanks to our volunteer [[ Distribution/FreeMedia | Free Media]] program.

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== How do I join the Fedora Project? ==

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Like what you see and want to help out? That's easy too! This [http://fedoraproject.org/join-fedora page] has

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all the information you need, and don't forget that all our contributors get access to some awesome tools to help them get their work done:

all the information you need, and don't forget that all our contributors get access to some awesome tools to help them get their work done:

* The skills and experience of hundreds of fellow Fedora contributors!

* The skills and experience of hundreds of fellow Fedora contributors!

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== What is the Fedora Distribution? ==

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''Fedora'' is a ﻿Linux-based operating system that provides [[User base|users]] with access to the latest [https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html free and open source software], in a [[QA | stable]], [[Security/Features | secure]] and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

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=== How do I get the Fedora Distribution? ===

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Easy, just visit this [https://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora page] and download it. You can try it without

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installing anything on your computer, thanks to our Live images on CD or USB - in fact, you can even create a Live USB stick from within [https://fedorahosted.org/liveusb-creator Windows]!

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If you have a slow internet connection, or no internet connection at all, then you can still get Fedora thanks to our volunteer [[Distribution/FreeMedia | Free Media]] program.

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=== Where does it come from? ===

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From [[#Our_Community | a community of people]] who want to put great free software to work around the world. Got something you want to do with Fedora? [https://fedoraproject.org/get-fedora Download a copy] and try it!

What is the Fedora Project?

The Fedora Project is a partnership of free software community members from around the globe. The Fedora Project builds open source software communities and produces a Linux distribution called "Fedora."

Our Mission

The Fedora Project's mission is to lead the advancement of free and open source software and content as a collaborative community.

Elements of Fedora's Mission

The Fedora Project succeeds through shared action on the part of many people throughout our community.

User base (also known as target audience)

Among our other goals, we strive to create a distribution that is not only open to contribution but also serves the needs of a wide audience of users. By meeting the common needs of a wide audience, Fedora encourages the spread of free software, understanding of its methodologies, and participation in its processes.

Our Core Values

We strongly believe in the bedrock principles that created all the components of our operating system, and
because of this we guarantee that Fedora will always be free for
everyone, everywhere, to use, modify and distribute.

We believe that all contributors should be excellent to each other. By creating an environment for constructive contribution, we can more effectively and successfully compare and challenge different ideas to find the best solutions for advancement, while building the size, diversity, and strength of our community.

Our Method

Fedora is a center for innovation in free and open source software, and creates a community where contributors of all kinds -- developers, documenters, artists, system administrators, and other free software and open source enthusiasts -- come together to advance the ecosystem for the benefit of everyone. The Fedora community contributes everything it builds back to the free and open source world and continues to make advances of significance to the broader community, as evidenced by the regular and rapid incorporation of its features into other Linux distributions. Regardless of which Linux distribution you use, you are relying on code developed within the Fedora Project.

Our Governance

Like any large community, Fedora provides several leadership components to help identify ways to improve, and to resolve conflicts on technical, organizational, and social levels. The goal for community leadership is to provide the minimum oversight required, and the maximum encouragement to community members to succeed in furthering the Fedora Project's shared goals. For this reason, governance of the community largely comes from the community itself. The Leadership page is a good place to start if you want to read about the primary governance entities in Fedora, and how they work.

Why Is the Fedora Project Different?

We try to always do the right thing, and provide only free and open source software. We will fight to protect and promote solutions that anyone can use and redistribute. To this end, we use only free and open source software to power the Fedora infrastructure itself. With this in mind, all of our developers are focused on working closely with upstream development teams, so everyone can benefit from our work and get access to our changes as soon as possible. Due to the huge amount of innovation that Fedora drives, this focus has had significant and long lasting effects. Some of the recent developments in free and open source software that Fedora has driven include:

The reverse is also true: by Staying_close_to_upstream_projects and development teams, Fedora often gets the latest software before anyone else. Not only does this benefit our community, but it also benefits the upstream teams by providing a much larger audience and more feedback for them.

And that's not all. It is just as easy for individuals to create their own distribution, thanks to Fedora's easy remixing tools. These tools allow you to quickly select the packages you want, and create live images for CD/DVD or USB, or installation discs. Some official versions, or what we call "spins," of Fedora have grown up this way, including:

Fedora Electronic Lab (installable Live DVD)

Fedora Xfce Spin (installable Live CD)

Fedora Games Spin (installable Live DVD)

We believe software patents are harmful, a hindrance to innovation in software development, and are inconsistent with the values of free and open source software. While tightly integrating proprietary and patent encumbered components might superficially improve ease of use, this practice does not benefit the community in the long run. The Fedora community prefers approaches that benefit the progress of free software in the future over those that emphasize short term ease of use.

Joining the Fedora Project

Like what you see and want to help out? That's easy too! This page has
all the information you need, and don't forget that all our contributors get access to some awesome tools to help them get their work done:

Fedora Planet is an aggregation of contributor blogs so you can see what everyone is up to

Fedora Hosted is the perfect location for hosting your free and open source projects

Fedora's own Gobby server, so we can collaboratively work on documents in real time

Fedora Build System to build your software across multiple architectures

The skills and experience of hundreds of fellow Fedora contributors!

What is the Fedora Distribution?

Fedora is a ﻿Linux-based operating system that provides users with access to the latest free and open source software, in a stable, secure and easy to manage form. Fedora is the largest of many free software creations of the Fedora Project. Because of its predominance, the word "Fedora" is often used interchangeably to mean both the Fedora Project and the Fedora operating system.

How do I get the Fedora Distribution?

Easy, just visit this page and download it. You can try it without
installing anything on your computer, thanks to our Live images on CD or USB - in fact, you can even create a Live USB stick from within Windows!

If you have a slow internet connection, or no internet connection at all, then you can still get Fedora thanks to our volunteer Free Media program.

Red Hat, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, the Shadowman logo, and JBoss are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
Linux® is the registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the U.S. and other countries.
The Fedora Project is maintained and driven by the community and sponsored by Red Hat. This is a community
maintained site. Red Hat is not responsible for content.